Class of 2024: Amanda Ayling, Brad Slater, Emily Moores, Hugh Evans, Jeannette Owen, Joseph Page, Kate Hunt, Krystina Gale, Lalleh Memar, Leanda Verrier, Nigel Oram, Paul Woods, Pippa Wilson.
MONDAY 1st JULY – WEDNSDAY 3rd JULY
Julian and Liz arrived at Sebastian’s on Monday evening, July 1st.
We made a couple of trips to the car and back, with suitcases and boxes of music.
Liz collected keys to no. 16 and no 25 from Claudia, and Julian collected the keys to no. 71 from Antonella. We picked up the chapel key from Natalia and Claudia asked Cecco to help move the keyboard from Sebastian’s to the chapel. A full-on rainstorm hit Julian on Tuesday and soaked him whilst collecting Aaron from Bagni station at lunchtime. At 7pm Liz set off to collect Sarah and Katy from Pisa Airport.
On Wedensday, Leanda, Laurie and Krystina arrived first, followed by Kate and Emily. Nigel, Paul and Brad arrived together, followed by Pippa and Hugh, who had been trying to phone to let us know they’d arrived, but as is often the case, their messages had gone into space!!! During the afternoon, Katherine Bryan arrived to look round with her friend June, and her son Torben. They are staying down in Bagni di Lucca so that Torben can swim and relax more easily. Our first meal at Da Elena’s was minus Jeannette, Amanda and Lalleh, who needed collecting from Pisa airport, which Julian did by car…
THURSDAY 4th JULY – SATURDAY 6th JULY
Liz had a request to move Pilates to 7.30am – we’ll start that tomorrow! So lovely to see Giovanna again and to experience the La Fagiana breakfast – although this was laid out indoors!! Not the same! However, it had rained and did feel cold! We were reassured that breakfast would be outside from tomorrow.
Baroque warmups focused on exercises from Liz’s soon to be published ‘Tone through interpretation’ book. (left to right – Nigel, Brad, Hugh, Paul).
Meanwhile Sarah’s warm up classes took place on modern flute on the usual Canonica balcony. These classes segued into individual lessons with Sarah in Sebastian’s studio, Liz upstairs in no 14 and Katherine in the Chapel. Julian and Aaron started rehearsals in the Canonica.
Delicious lunches were prepared by Katy and laid out in La Fagiana. Afterwards, we could hear ensembles being formed and free time being used for practice, whilst the tutor’s made coffee in no 14 and set up the afternoon activities.
3pm everyone assembled in the Canonica for the large ensemble – ‘All that Jazz’ and ‘Me and My Baby’ from Chicago, arranged by Mel Orriss.
This was followed by tea and the shop (items for sale from Alry, WonderfulWinds and CDs, caps and a mug) in no 14, beautifully served and sorted by Katy.
At 4.30pm we returned to the Canonica for a brilliant series of masterclasses from Katherine Bryan. Her energy and focus were phenomenal, and all the participants were encouraged to work the dynamics more, to embrace the breaths, not apologise for them, but to make them part of the music, to pant and work the engine! To experiment, to characterise. I’m simplifying, but these were golden sessions for all…
Suppers every evening were outside the village church at Da Elena’s. These long, leisurely meals were accompanied by laughter and an ever-growing moonlit night. On Friday night we were treated to a wonderful recital by our Young Artist, Lalleh Memar, and Saturday night Katherine Bryan gave a spell-binding recital of breathtaking depth and virtuosity – both recitals were musically and sensitively accompanied by Aaron Burrows. Such well-crafted recitals put together on virtually no practice time together, but both recitals were spine-tinglingly fabulous. What a treat! Supper at Da Elena’s, with Katherine, June and Torben joining us but sad to say goodbye to them at the end of the evening.
SUNDAY 7th JULY – a day off!
Everyone stayed in the village this year due to a train strike. Walks were taken, practice was heard, and ensembles formed. Joseph Page arrived on Saturday, so Liz had an opportunity to catch up with Joseph. Supper at Da Elena’s.
MONDAY 8th JULY
Carlo Ipata arrived at breakfast and was shown to the chapel by Julian. The baroque flutes had their first one-to-one lessons with Carlo, whilst Sarah and Liz speed-taught on modern flute and ran down to the chapel to give a lunchtime recital at 12 noon. Liz performing on her ‘new’ old Louis Lot flute no 5572, fell ill during the first movement of the Undine Sonata – a combination of sudden heat and loss of air was affecting her breathing and she decided to stop at the end of the first movement. However, Sarah took over and performed with enormous beauty and musicality. Liz returned to join Sarah in an encore performance of Emil Kronke’s duet with Aaron.
Lunch followed by small ensembles – Liz in the chapel with the baroque boys, followed by a baroque flute masterclass, Sarah up in Canonica with the modern flutes.
Liz’s baroque boys! (Left to right – Carlo, Brad, Nigel, Paul, Joseph. Hugh was missing – taking tea to Julian) enjoying a tea break in no 71 – with the stunning view from the balcony.
Movie night chaos, as cables went missing, chairs needed collecting and pizzas arrived uncharacteristically, on time! The film ‘Chicago’ appeared to be in black and white with blue stripes! No matter, it was enjoyed by all in Sebastian’s underground film studio. The film finished relatively early, so splinter groups chatted on into the night until disaster struck. Katy fell down a flight of stairs in no.14. Carlo turned into a Dr and offered advice, which was that it would be safer and better to let Katy sleep until morning and take her to hospital then.
TUESDAY 9th JULY
Pilates, breakfasts and warmups all as usual and individual lessons with Carlo in the chapel, Liz in no.14 and Sarah in the studio. Aaron rehearsed in the Canonica. Meanwhile, Julian and Krystina took Katy down to the hospital in Lucca. Lunch was thrown together by Aaron, Liz and Sarah, with helpers Lalleh and Emily, with clearing and washing up help from Jeannette and Amanda – a real team effort! The afternoon rehearsals continued in the chapel for the evening baroque concert, meanwhile the modern flautists had ensemble taken by our Young Artist, Lalleh, followed by a masterclass with Sarah, accompanied by Aaron, who was somehow also rehearsing the baroque flutes – it’s lucky Aaron can split himself in two and run between two venues!
Carlo led the baroque concert with Liz, Sarah and Aaron all involved, whilst sadly the hospital group (which included our harpsichordist, Julian) were detained down in Lucca. However, Julian and Krystina returned for supper before Julian and Sarah returned back to Lucca to deliver Katy some much needed overnight items.
WEDNESDAY 10th JULY
Concert day in Tereglio is always a highlight as we move down into the main church for rehearsals. This year the programme had solo items to rehearse from Paul, Pippa, Krystina, Nigel and Leanda; duets from Amanda & Jeannette, Lalleh & Emily. A Trio with Amanda, Jeannette and Hugh and a couple of sextets, along with our two Chicago themed arrangements. The evening ended with a joyous gathering in La Fagiana and the traditional cake from Natalia. Many went back down to Da Elena’s for a festive night cap, even though the first departing taxi was booked for 4am…
Sample of music played
Nocturne by Lili Boulanger
3 pieces by Ferroud
Lotus Land by Cyril Scott
Sonatina by Eldin Burton
Mei by Kazuo Fukushima
Histoire du Tango by Astor Piazzolla
Reverie and Petite Valse by Andre Caplet
Winter Spirits by Katherine Hoover
Beau Soir by Claude Debussy
Two Butterflies for Two Flutes and Piano op 165 by Emil Kronke